Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

The storm over “Will an Indio tax proposal prompt Goldenvoice to pack its bags?” seems to have finally calmed down.

But now there’s a new story making the rounds on the social media networks: ThinkProgress.com is reporting that the “corporate executives” behind brands like Coachella are among those bankrolling “right-wing attack ads”:

That’s because many of the country’s most common brands are run by rich conservatives who are using their personal wealth to bankroll outside spending groups that are running attack ads smearing progressives.

From Marriott Hotels to Brawny paper towels, and from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Coachella music festival, corporate executives at these organizations have given millions of dollars to groups like Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future.

They cite the festival’s affiliation with AEG, whose parent company Anschutz Corporation is run by billionaire Philip Anschutz.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

This article is fucking stupid. Coachella is not backing this...the Anschutz Corporation is. But no one bothers to read anymore.

Anschutz Foundation has funded a number of conservative and Christian organizations including the following:

The Foundation for a Better Life, organization founded in 2000 to promote "positive behavioral values"

Institute for American Values, which campaigns against same-sex marriage and against single parenting. The Institute has received three grants to date for a total of $17,500 over the lifetime of the Foundation

Colorado for Family Values, the organization behind Colorado's anti-gay constitutional amendment, Amendment 2, approved by the voters in 1992 and later overturned by the US Supreme Court;

Enough Is Enough, whose President and CEO is Donna Rice Hughes, the major figure in the sex scandal that ended the 1987 campaign of Gary Hart, in the Democratic presidential primary. The organization claims that it is "Lighting the way to protect children and families from the dangers of illegal Internet pornography and sexual predators";

Morality in the Media, established in 1962 "to combat obscenity and uphold decency standards in the media."

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

Goldenvoice is owned by AEG. At some point, the whole brand name and it's various components are tarnished.

For example, I just ate at Seasons 52 restaurant in Rockville, MD, last week. It was a great restaurant. Then I found out it was owned by the same company that owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster, which are notoriously anti-gay and I have been boycotting for years. Seasons 52 is going to open 4 restaurants in California, none of which I will eat at.

I would like to see how Coachella and Goldenvoice can wiggle out of this, knowing that they are wholly owned by an anti-gay company.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

a restaurant being anti-gay (not sure how they are, i don't eat there anyway) is different from the owner of a corporation helping to elect a candidate that s/he thinks will personally benefit them.

There are no ads out there saying, 'This message brought to you by Goldenvoice/COachella/Paul Tollet. you think Paul or anyone affiliated with the festival has any influence over where this guy throws his money.

Originally Posted by canexplain

If moles had subways, molestation wouldn't be one of the creepiest words there is ....

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

When there are literally two candidates in a race, at some point you're going to end up boycotting a lot of things in your life when humans who happen to be at the top of the mega corporations that spiral down into most of the media, food, and other products we consume support someone in some way. I mean, at some point I think it's possible to create separation of one person's personal politics versus the things these huge umbrella corporations have to offer.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

In the version of this article/graphic I have seen, they listed Coachella as one of these guilty parties that donated money to this & that conservative organization, but when it came to the actual text, it said Phil Anschutz donated money to this people. When did Coachella BECOME Phil Anschutz??? Yes, I know that AEG owns Goldenvoice, but there's a difference between the owner of a company (that owns ANOTHER company) donating money and the Company itself donating money (see Chik-Fill-A).

Also, it said that Anschutz donated $50,000. Sounds like a lot to me and you, but in the long run of things, I'm sure that money donated didn't last a day, if that.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

Originally Posted by gaypalmsprings

For example, I just ate at Seasons 52 restaurant in Rockville, MD, last week. It was a great restaurant. Then I found out it was owned by the same company that owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster, which are notoriously anti-gay and I have been boycotting for years.

Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw! I never knew they hated the gays. But honestly, I don't see myself refusing to eat at either establishment. While I think its dumb that the companies are so narrow-minded, I can't think that all the people working at any of their given chains feel the same. Maybe its just young naivity.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

Originally Posted by Drinkey McDrinkerstein

When there are literally two candidates in a race, at some point you're going to end up boycotting a lot of things in your life when humans who happen to be at the top of the mega corporations that spiral down into most of the media, food, and other products we consume support someone in some way. I mean, at some point I think it's possible to create separation of one person's personal politics versus the things these huge umbrella corporations have to offer.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

Originally Posted by gaypalmsprings

I would like to see how Coachella and Goldenvoice can wiggle out of this, knowing that they are wholly owned by an anti-gay company.

Bob, is this news to you? really? I honestly thought this was common knowledge and I think I posted about it on the old board (so we're talking like 2005 or so). yes, Coachella is a production of Goldenvoice, and GV is owned by AEG, and the "A" in AEG is Philip Anschutz, and Anschutz is a political conservative who has used his position to advocate for and fund causes many of us disagree vehemently with. Is this enough to cause you to boycott Coachella? Are you willing/able/prepared to apply this logic consistently across everything else you purchase in your life? Are you boycotting Georgia-Pacific gypsum board and Brawny paper towels? (Georgia Pacific is owned by Koch Industries and the Koch brothers are bankrolling all sorts of protofascist political campaigns including the entire tea party movement).

Are you going to research the capital structure of the companies of every single product you buy and identify those in the management team with whom you disagree politically and make it a moral cause to avoid those products? Where do you draw the line? Volkswagen once employed lots of Nazis, who not only forbade gays from marrying but also set out to exterminate all the ones they could find, but that didn't make the Jetta any less popular with gay men.

I know you love the NASCAR. Are you convinced that NASCAR is a progressive, gay-friendly, equal-rights-supporting organization, both corporately and individually among the members of the key management team? Cuz, um, that's certainly not the impression I get.

Re: Coachella named among brands that bankroll Mitt Romney ads

I think it is up to the individual to decide how far they want to go with these kind of things. There are many brands I won't touch for various reasons. But yes, this is old news - and a rather tenuous link. Coachella isn't a brand that bankrolls Romney ads. Sensationalism will only win over idiots.

Originally Posted by JustSteve

well, for all intensive porpoises it is, will sell out within seconds tomorrow.